Lawmakers Gather Funds For Coming Election

RICHMOND — As state Republicans and Democrats gear up for what could be the fight of their lives - the battle in November for control of the General Assembly - one fact has emerged as a given:

It will take money, lots of it, to wage this war.

Lawmakers' first campaign finance reports of the year show that several have amassed war chests in the $100,000 range, surpassing levels of previous election cycles and foretelling a fierce election year that has only just begun.

FOR THE RECORD - Published correction ran Wednesday, February 3, 1999.An article and accompanying chart in Sunday's Local section included fund-raising efforts of three area lawmakers. State Sen. Marty Williams, R-Newport News, was reported to have $30,000 on hand and have raised $112,000; Williams has $76,000 on hand and has raised $190,000 since Jan. 1, 1996. Sen. Richard J. Holland, D-Isle of Wight, was reported with $1,000 on hand and $30,000 raised; he has $13,000 on hand and has raised $44,000. Del. Harvey B. Morgan, R-Gloucester, was reported with $9,000 on hand and $200 raised; he has $26,000 on hand and has raised $1,000 since Jan. 1, 1998. The story failed to take into account that their latest reports had not yet been included in the political funds database upon which the story was based. (The text of this article and box has been changed to reflect the correction)

"We ought to set a new record this year simply because this is Armageddon," said political analyst Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia, of the potential for a competitive season.

At the top of the heap so far are a handful of the area's own senators and delegates, some of whom boast positions of leadership and exposure in Richmond that have helped them collect more than their share of contributions.

Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr. of James City County, for example, the Republican floor leader of the state Senate, was, with $234,000 raised as of Jan. 1, the No. 2 fund-raiser in his chamber for the current four-year election cycle. And with nearly $120,000 still in the bank, Norment has hold of the fourth-largest war chest of all 40 senators.

Sen. Marty Williams, R-Newport News, is not even a close second among Peninsula senators, with just $76,000 in the bank and has raised $190,000 since Jan. 1, 1996.

In the House, meanwhile, Del. Alan A. Diamonstein, D-Newport News, continues to prove himself a formidable fund-raiser. Diamonstein, who led the House with nearly $500,000 in contributions during the 1997 election cycle, remains on the top 10 list in the House this two-year cycle with more than $70,000 raised.

But it is Del. George W. Grayson, D-James City, who has raised the most money among Peninsula delegates - $95,000. The reason? Grayson wrote himself a check for $81,000 in December. Still, the normally modest fund-raiser has less than $10,000 in the bank, putting him squarely in the bottom quarter of delegates in terms of cash on hand.

Across Virginia, six delegates have raised more than $75,000 this cycle, and 13 have brought in more than $50,000. That compares to the previous election, when, as late as April, no one had raised more than $75,000 and only one delegate, House Speaker Thomas W. Moss Jr., had that much in the bank.

The House leader so far in overall fund raising this election cycle is Del. Eric I. Cantor, R-Henrico, with $124,000.

Although historical data was not available for senators, a substantial number of them, too, have amassed large accounts this time around. As of Jan. 1, 13 of the 40 senators had raised more than $100,000 for the election cycle. Sen. Walter A. Stosch, R-Henrico, leads the pack with $283,000.

Those numbers should come as no surprise this year, with both chambers divided nearly evenly. In the House, there are 50 Democrats, 49 Republicans and one Independent, while in the Senate, Republicans gained control four years ago with 21 of the 40 seats.

"We won't know anything that matters until after the filing deadline in April," he said. "You need to know how many open seats there are and whether they're in areas with expensive media markets. Also, if you have virtually all incumbents running for re-election, which we may have, then you automatically reduce the number of truly competitive elections."

Meanwhile, local lawmakers have distinguished themselves in other fund-raising ways. Norment, for example, who currently is pushing legislation to help developers get sewer permits more quickly, leads both chambers in the amount of money - roughly $31,000 - he has received from developers, contractors and those who work in real estate.

Williams, a Republican who works in the development field himself as an environmental consultant, is second on that list with $23,000.

Diamonstein leads the House with more than $11,000 from those professions.

But the powerful Democrat, who pushed a $98 million grant for Newport News Shipbuilding last year, carries a distinction of his own for the current election cycle: nearly $12,000 in donations directly from the yard.

- Amy Gardner can be reached at (804) 644-7123 or by e-mail at richmonddp@aol.com

LOCAL FUND-RAISING EFFORTS

Here's a look at fund-raising efforts of local lawmakers

To Date* On Hand**

Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City $234,000 $119,000

Sen. Marty Williams, R-Newport News $190,000 $ 76,000

Del. George W. Grayson, D-James City $95,000 $ 7,349

Del. Alan A. Diamonstein, D-Newport News $71,000 $40,000

Sen. Richard J. Holland, D-Isle of Wight $44,000 $13,000

Del. Phillip A. Hamilton, R-Newport News $28,000 $16,000

Del. Jo Ann S. Davis, R-York $23,000 $15,000

Del. Mary T. Christian, D-Hampton $18,000 $ 7,000

Sen. W. Henry Maxwell, D-Newport News $12,000 $ 1,000

Del. William K. Barlow, D-Isle of Wight $12,000 $13,000

Del. I. Vincent Behm, D-Hampton $ 2,500 $ 7,900

Del. Flora Davis Crittenden, D-Newport News $ 600 $ 600

Del. Harvey B. Morgan, R-Gloucester $ 1000 $26,000

*Includes all donations received since the last election cycle. For delegates, the period begins Jan. 1, 1998; for senators, Jan. 1, 1996.